dead_poet wrote:
Honestly, I wonder how much this matters. It seems that those who oppose the issue could care less about the Vikings record. And those that are for it I can't imagine would be so turned off by this one season that they'd oppose a new stadium that would keep the Vikings around for the foreseeable future. While it probably is more encouraging and more of a story if the Vikings were undefeated, I doubt their record plays much of a part in negotiations. But I could be wrong.
I think the only way it would play a significant role is if the team was hot, as they were in 2009, and even casual fans were catching "Vikes fever".
This is actually an optimistic article written by an author I respect (Doug Grow, long time Strib Metro columnist), but I don't think this statement is at all true. Lester Bagley of the Vikings said on KFAN yesterday that it was absolutely false.
Doug Grow article at MinnPost wrote:The dome's lease automatically extends itself and the Vikings likely would face a court battle to get out of town.
Several articles on the obscure Ramsay County Charter Commission this week. This one from Pioneer Press today discounts whether a Charter commission decision to force a referendum could withstand the State Legislature's decision to move forward on the stadium.
Pioneer Press article by Frederick Melo wrote:But even some diehard stadium foes are skeptical. The Minnesota Voters Alliance notes in its materials: "It is unclear that the referendum available to voters...would be able to roll back the sales tax ordinance once it is already in place, that is, enacted before November 2012." ... "The bottom line is the Legislature can always trump the charter commission," he said. "The Legislature granted Ramsey County the authority to make a charter." ... The stadium package would then go to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners. Just four of the board's seven members would need to approve the 0.5 percent sales tax - a nickel on every $10 purchase - for the revenue stream to become law. As of now, it appears stadium supporters have their four votes. ... Even a 4-3 vote would leave the Vikings clear to proceed with a publicly financed stadium - including $300 million from the state and $350 million from Ramsey County - except perhaps for the matter of the Ramsey County ballot question.
The above article appears to marginalize the Ramsay County Charter commission. Below are some articles about the Charter commission meeting this week where public comment against the stadium was much more vocal than comment in favor.
Rochelle Olson Star Tribune article wrote:Speakers lining up against the team's plan overwhelmingly outnumbered the supporters at the hearing, which was organized by the Ramsey County Charter Commission and was the first of two that will be dedicated to the topic. The commission could decide immediately after the next hearing, Oct. 11, whether to put the issue to the voters in 2012.
article by Frederick Melo in Pioneer Press wrote:Dozens of Ramsey County residents flooded a public hearing at the New Brighton Community Center, most of them adamant that they be given the chance to vote on ballot language that would block $350 million or more in county sales tax revenue from funding a new $1.1 billion Vikings stadium in Arden Hills.
Here's another Pioneer Press article by Brian Murphy on the Wilf's possible mindset that talks about the issues regarding a move to LA. Not the least of which is the "moving fee" that will be demanded by the other NFL owners. Also, the "elephant" in the room from my perspective is not discussed at length in this article, is the Republican legislature truly willing to get behind a plan that commits $300 million from the State for the stadium when the Twins got nothing from the State?
article in Pioneer Press by Brian Murphy wrote:While momentum is growing for Los Angeles to build a downtown stadium, patience is waning for the Vikings' owner to get his team a new playground in Arden Hills. Wilf's Metrodome lease expires Feb. 1, and legislation for a new stadium remains stalled in St. Paul.
Skeptics who have watched a half-dozen stadium projects wither in Los Angeles scoff at such confidence. They say AEG's demands are too high, especially if NFL owners pile on a nine-figure relocation fee. AEG wants at least 25 percent ownership of an existing team and would play landlord to the glitziest, most expensive stadium in the league. Yielding that much control on top of expensive rent might be enough to discourage any NFL team, including Wilf's.
The NFL has no interest in losing the Twin Cities, the country's 15th-largest media market. The Vikings are an anchor franchise in the Upper Midwest, selling out every game since 1998. They attract the fourth-highest television ratings in the league, according to Nielsen.
To discourage relocation, NFL bylaws require owners to notify the league and its home market by Feb. 15 that they intend to move that year. Three-quarters of owners (24 of 32) must approve relocation. A team could fight the NFL - Al Davis defied the league when he took the Raiders to L.A. from Oakland and defeated his fellow owners in court - because the league does not enjoy the same antitrust exemption as Major League Baseball.
Wilf has partnered with Ramsey County to raise $350 million through a 0.5 percent sales tax - a nickel on every $10 spent. The Vikings have offered to pay at least $407 million. Gov. Mark Dayton has said the state would contribute no more than $300 million.
Star Tribune article by Rochelle Olson and Mike Kaszuba wrote:An informal group of business leaders are pushing a 41-acre site just north of the Basilica of St. Mary, not far from another proposed stadium location that includes the city's Farmers Market. Both sites are close to the Minnesota Twins' Target Field and on the other side of downtown from the Metrodome, where the team has played since 1982 and which is the preferred site for city officials. ... City officials said the proposal's biggest draw is that the city and Xcel Energy own about 75 percent of the site, making it potentially less complicated to assemble the land package.
Here's what I don't get. The people are looking at this as 5 cents on 10 dollars. Ok, fine. Are the Vikings going to own the stadium? Nope. Are the Vikings going to be the only ones who use it? Nope. How many other days during the year will it be used? 200, 300, 350? Who knows. They look at it as an investment only for the Vikings, not as an investment for the community. So let's not invest in the community. Let's not turn around a Superfund site into something useful. Let's let the land sit there until someone else comes along and builds what? How many years from now? How many other options have been presented for this site in the last 10 years?
Granted, I don't live in the county, or for that matter in MN even. But how many people will sit they and say "We can't afford this" and then hit the store for a package of cigs on the way home. Can't afford 5 cents on 10 bucks, but damn, we can burn 2.49 up in smoke to blacken our lungs.
Sorry, rant over.
Vikings fan since Nov. 6, 1966. Annoying Packer fans since Nov. 7, 1966
Raptorman wrote:How many other days during the year will it be used? 200, 300, 350? Who knows.
Not really 'who knows', but it certainly isn't anywhere near 200 days. I'd bet well under 100. The Metrodome's usage might be a good gauge, but if the Metrodome isn't torn down, I suspect many of the events would still be held there because of either the location or the cheaper cost.
I thought it was used quite a bit, there was a surprising stat given a while ago (can't find it now) but I did find this >>
Other events
Minnesota Strikers 1984 NASL season.
2002 and 2008 Victory Bowls, the NCCAA National Football Championships.
Prep Bowl (Minnesota State High School League; state high school football championships).
MSHSL state soccer championships.
High school and small college baseball games through the spring .
Small college football games in November hosted by Augsburg College. Also other small college football events including the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference.
motocross, and other motorsport events.
Large concerts.
Large religious services and gatherings.
The American Wrestling Association, promoted WrestleRock 86 on April 20, 1986, drawing 23,000.[61] This was one of the AWA's last major shows before they went out of business several years later.
Rollerdome inline skating around the stadium's concourses[62] and Minnesota Distance Running Association running (exercise programs in the concourses).
Conventions, such as Twins Fest, golf shows, home and garden expos, and car shows.
Cultural celebrations, such as Hmong New Year gatherings and the Oromo Jilboo American Games.
Minnesota Youth in Music Marching Band Competition.
The Promise Keepers, an all-men's evangelical Christian service.
The annual Hmong American New Year celebration is held in December over the course of two days.
Metallica and Guns N' Roses brought the Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour to the dome on September 15, 1992, with Faith No More as their opening act.
Youth In Music- Midwest Marching Band Championship.
Monster Jam.
APeterson28 wrote:
Once you find out that the Vikings offically are not getting a new stadium, you can shut your mouth
Why don't you go ahead now and render your verdict on the rest of the season, that way we can all just shut up. Heck, shut down the site for the rest of the season - what would be the point. God forbid we should talk about something that you already know about.
What a maroon!
"My anterior orifice is forever causing me extreme difficulty;
therefore, I shall endeavor to acquire some self-control."
